McPherson says license ruling reinforces need for repealing fee

Apr. 9, 2010

Written by

Gannett Capital Bureau

BATON ROUGE -- Sen. Joe McPherson says an attorney general's opinion supporting the process that led to a $15 increase in driver's license fees reinforces his effort to repeal the fee or at least have hearings on whether any future fee increases should be imposed.

Attorney General James D. "Buddy" Caldwell says in an opinion issued this week that the Office of Motor Vehicles was authorized by a 1989 law and again in 1993 to impose the fee, but until last month chose not to do it. The fee is for doing background checks against a national registry on all license applicants, instead of only commercial licenses, as had been done since 1989.

"I am disappointed in the position taken by the Louisiana attorney general's office," said McPherson, D-Woodworth, claiming the increase was imposed "without legislative approval and with no input or review."

"The opinion issued on the matter reinforces the need to clarify current state law as to the need for a transparent, accountable process for agencies to raise fees of any kind," he said. "It is more important than ever that we take action during this session to do just that."

"The public and the Legislature have been very clear on this," he said. "The public not only expects but demands transparency. To that end, these two bills are vital to making sure the process works as the Legislature intended with any proposed fee subject to legislative oversight and public review."

Caldwell's statement says State Police officers have been conducting the checks on all applicants, in compliance with federal law, but had not imposed the increase.

State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the Public Safety Services section was able to absorb the costs until it was hit by recent budget cuts.